Rules Against Deforestation: The Effect And Coming Into Effect Of The Deforestation Regulation

Background to the law

The Deforestation Regulationentered into force on 29 June 2023. The regulation is part of a broader action plan to tackle deforestation and forest degradation, and can be seen as a European response to the lack of binding international rules on forest protection. The aim of the regulation is to minimise deforestation and forest degradation resulting from EU consumption and production, while also reducing the EU's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. To this end, the regulation lays down rules on the marketing, offering and export of certain raw materials and products, namely cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, rubber and timber. These raw materials and products may be placed on the market or exported only if they (i) are deforestation-free; (ii) have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production; and (iii) are covered by a due diligence statement. The regulation replaces the